Southeastern Grocers launches eighth campaign of giving in support of local military families

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2025--

Southeastern Grocers, LLC (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie, proudly answers the call to serve with the launch of its annual community donation program in support of Folds of Honor, a dedicated nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the families of fallen and disabled military members.

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From now until June 17, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customers can honor U.S. military heroes while shopping at their neighborhood stores by donating $1, $5 or rounding up their grocery bill to the nearest dollar at checkout. Every contribution directly supports the children and spouses of the American service members who gave everything in defense of freedom.

Anthony Hucker, Chairman, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, said, “Our partnership with Folds of Honor is rooted in our compassion and respect for the military families who make up the very fabric of our nation, especially in the Southeast. As we enter our eighth year of giving, we recognize the extraordinary sacrifices these families make in service to something greater than themselves. Together, we pay tribute to the legacy and sacrifices of these heroes while also supporting their loved ones’ access to education and greater opportunity.”

Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, CEO and Founder of Folds of Honor, said, “Freedom is never free, and behind every fallen or disabled service member is a family whose life has been forever changed. Thanks to unwavering allies like Southeastern Grocers, we are turning gratitude into action by providing scholarships that open doors for the families of America’s heroes. SEG continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with our military families, and in doing so, they are helping shape the next generation of leaders, dreamers and changemakers.”

Since 2018, SEG has donated more than $8 million to Folds of Honor with the help of its customers, associates and foundation. The funds have provided more than 1,600 educational scholarships for the children and spouses of fallen and disabled U.S. military service members.

All donations to SEG’s community donation program directly support Folds of Honor’s mission to honor the sacrifice of U.S. military heroes by providing life-changing scholarships to their loved ones. Scholarships awarded through Folds of Honor provide private education tuition and tutoring for children in grades K-12, as well as tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate or professional program. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has provided more than 52,000 educational scholarships for families of fallen and disabled military service members.

SEG’s community donation program is part of its broader campaign of support for the military community. Earlier this month, the grocer partnered with local USO centers at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa and Naval Air Station Pensacola. On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, ahead of Mother’s Day, the grocer surprised more than 30 military moms with heartwarming gift packages in recognition of the daily, unseen sacrifices made on the home front.

In addition to supporting military families, all Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie locations will be open during regular business hours Monday, May 26 to serve customers observing Memorial Day with their loved ones.

For more information about how to contribute to SEG’s community donation program in support of Folds of Honor, please visit a local Harveys Supermarket or Winn-Dixie store.

About Southeastern Grocers

Southeastern Grocers, LLC (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is an omnichannel retailer serving customers in brick-and-mortar grocery stores and liquor stores, as well as online with convenient grocery delivery throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well-respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and caring associates and a strong commitment to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, visit www.segrocers.com.

About Folds of Honor

Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military and first responders. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school, and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 62,000 scholarships totaling about $290 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45 percent are minorities. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on Candid. Folds of Honor was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment 1, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org.

Southeastern Grocers proudly announces the launch of its annual community donation program in support of Folds of Honor to stand with the families of America’s fallen and disabled service members. Now through June 17, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customers can help carry the legacy of the nation’s heroes by donating $1, $5 or rounding up their total at checkout. Every contribution provides direct support for life-changing scholarships to the loved ones of U.S. military heroes.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544.

Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.

Meanwhile Monday, Iran called for pro-government demonstrators to head to the streets in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”

Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”

Iran through country's parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

More than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.

Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country’s capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.

In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.

Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”

Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.

“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, ... refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the text warned.

The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.

Nikhinson reported from aboard Air Force One.

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)